State of Oklahoma Archives: on Immigration

Workman's campaign issues are all in the right place: he's for income equality, a $15 minimum wage, expanding the Affordable Care Act with the goal of eventual universal coverage, comprehensive immigration reform including a path to citizenship, and
automatic voter registration. He's unapologetically pro-choice and in favor of common sense gun laws, although in Oklahoma he might get farther by advocating the sale of assault rifles to fetuses.

Source: Wonkette.com on 2016 Oklahoma Senate race
Jun 26, 2016

James Inhofe:
Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry

Question topic: Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry of persons into the country.

Today Senator Jim Inhofe was forced to face his flip-flop on immigration when questioned about his 2008 vote to house immigrants in military facilities. Recently, Inhofe has sharpened his attacks on the practice of using U.S. military installations to
house immigrant children who are fleeing violence and exploitation. Only today was he forced to come clean that he had indeed voted for the law that put them in those military facilities.

Contrary to his previous position, Inhofe now purports to see a
host of ills stemming from the protection of these compromised children. "Senator Inhofe was part of the problem that created this situation in the first place, and now he is running and hiding from his own vote as a U.S. Senator," said
Matt Silverstein, Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate. "What Senator Inhofe is failing to tell voters is that the law he voted for is the real cause of this border crisis."

Joe Carr:
Refugees cost millions in school & medical costs

Joe Carr has been arguing that Tennessee's refugee population is bad for the state because they cost us money. So, they commissioned a study. The estimates show Tennessee taxpayers spent $40 million last year to educate school-age refugees and $26
million to cover those on TennCare. But refugees remit more than $103 million in taxes.

That sure sounds like refugees add a lot to our state. But Carr is now dismissing the study, saying, "We don't know if it's flawed." Apparently one of the flaws is
that the study doesn't take into account how many immigrants might be in prison.

Well, it costs roughly $25,000 a year to house a prisoner. We also know that there are roughly 21,000 inmates in our prisons--0.3% of the population. Even if 1% of all
refugees were incarcerated--more than triple that rate--that would cost Tennessee $14 million. Even if we take out the money for our hypothetical prisoners, refugees in general are still making a huge positive economic contribution to the state.

Source: Nashville Scene on 2014 Oklahoma Senate debate
Nov 14, 2013

Jim Bridenstine:
Secure the borders to stop movement of narcotics and slaves

Q: Do you support allowing illegal immigrants, who were brought to the US as minors, to pursue citizenship without returning to their country of origin?

A: No.

Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration law by state and local police?

A: Yes. The laws of the US must be enforced unless they are changed by legislative process. We must secure the borders of the United States so that illegal movement of persons, narcotics, slaves and weapons across the border is stopped.

Q: If the President signs the final Executive Totalization Social Security Agreement with Mexico it could lead to Social Security benefits going to individuals who worked in the
U.S. while illegal. Do you support the Totalization Agreement?

Joe Dorman:
Criminalize assisting or employing illegal aliens

Vote to pass a bill that establishes laws and regulations regarding immigration in the State of Oklahoma.

Makes it a felony to transport or conceal
undocumented immigrants with knowledge of the immigrant's illegal presence in the US

Requires that applicants present valid evidence of their legal status in the US in order to be issued identification cards

Requires that every public employer and
their contractors register with an approved employment eligibility verification system

Places liability on employers who discharge US citizens from employment while retaining undocumented immigrants in a job requiring equal skill, effort,
responsibility

Prohibits individuals unlawfully present in the US from receiving resident tuition or financial aid unless the individual has resided in the state for a least two years and provides a pending application for legalized status.